# Airbnb amenities guests actually want, and the ones they never notice

Source: https://rushilo.com/blog/airbnb-amenities-guests-actually-want
By om.assets, Rushilo. Updated 2026-11-03.

> The Airbnb amenities guests actually want fall into two groups. Search filters decide whether you get booked at all: wifi, free parking, air conditioning or heating, a kitchen, a washer, self check-in and, where the market expects it, a pool, hot tub or pet policy. Comfort basics decide the review: a good mattress, enough pillows and towels, real coffee and a smart TV guests log into themselves. Everything else is a nice to have.

You are furnishing your first Airbnb, or your occupancy is flat, and every list online tells you to buy 32 things. A hot tub, a record player, a smart lock, artisan soap. Some of that matters a lot. Most of it does nothing for your bookings.

The useful question is not "what do guests like" but **"what does each amenity actually do for me?"** An amenity can do one of three jobs: get your listing shown when guests filter their search, earn the five star review once they arrive, or simply sit there. This guide sorts the common amenities into those jobs, with rough costs and the evidence from Airbnb's own data and from hosts on Reddit.

## What amenities do Airbnb guests actually want?

**Guests want the amenities they filter for, then the comforts they touch every day.** Airbnb's Resource Center lists the ten most searched amenities worldwide for January to December 2025: pool, free parking, wifi, air conditioning or heating, kitchen, hot tub, washer or dryer, self check-in, TV or cable, and BBQ grill.

Two terms are worth defining before we go on:

- **Search filter amenity:** an item a guest can tick in Airbnb's filters. If you do not have it, you are not even shown to that guest.
- **Review driver:** something guests notice during the stay and mention in reviews. It does not get you found, but it protects your rating, which keeps you ranking.

The mistake beginners make is spending on a third group, the showpieces, before the first two are solid. In a long r/AirBnB thread on "legendary" amenities, the top replies were blunt: "A snack drawer > $2000 toilet." Another host with a bidet said it never occurred to any guest to mention it.

## Tier 1: the amenities that decide whether you get booked

**These are search filters, and missing one quietly removes you from a slice of searches.** Get every one that fits your property before you buy anything else.

| Amenity | Why it matters | Rough cost (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Fast, reliable wifi | Filter, plus remote workers check speed in reviews | Your internet bill, about $50 to $80 a month |
| Air conditioning or heating | Filter; US guests assume A/C exists | Portable unit about $300 to $500 each |
| Kitchen with basics | Filter; longer stays depend on it | $200 to $400 for cookware, knives, dishes |
| Free parking | Filter; one of the top three searches | Free if you have it, clear instructions if not |
| Washer and dryer | Filter; essential for stays over 4 nights | Existing, or skip and say so clearly |
| Self check-in | Filter; removes late arrival stress | Smart lock about $150 to $250 |
| Smoke and CO alarms, extinguisher, first aid kit | Safety items Airbnb lists as expected | About $60 to $120 total |

Costs are typical US retail ranges, not quotes; check your own market.

> **Watch out:** Air conditioning is the amenity that causes the most anger when it is missing. A London Superhost thread on r/airbnb_hosts drew over 1,200 comments about American guests complaining about no A/C, even though the listing said so. The top replies said Americans assume A/C the way they assume running water, and one guest said they "would have paid an extra $20 a night without thinking about it" for a portable unit. Airbnb's own 2018 survey found 59% of US respondents called A/C an important indoor amenity.

## Tier 2: the amenities that earn the five star review

**Reviews come from sleep, cleanliness and small comforts, not from gadgets.** Hosts who track what guests write keep naming the same short list.

1. **A good mattress and pillows.** One Kauai host said guests rave about two things, and the first is the bed. Plan two pillows per guest, firm and soft.
2. **Enough good towels.** "Don't cheap out," wrote one host, especially for longer stays. Keep a spare set per guest.
3. **Real coffee.** A host on r/ShortTermRentals said a good espresso machine gets mentioned "more than almost anything" because it is the first thing guests use. At minimum, a simple coffee maker plus ground coffee, tea, sugar and creamer.
4. **A smart TV guests sign into themselves.** Guests want Netflix and Hulu on their own accounts. A previous guest's account left logged in is a classic review complaint.
5. **Kitchen staples.** Olive oil, salt, pepper, sugar, dish soap and a sponge cost a few dollars and stop the "nothing to cook with" review.
6. **A snack or welcome basket.** Cookies, bottled water and a local treat show up in reviews out of proportion to their cost.
7. **A working hair dryer, blackout curtains and charging cables by the bed.** Cheap, and noticed when missing.

> **Tip:** Restocking these items is where hosts slip. Put every consumable on your turnover list; the [Airbnb cleaning turnover checklist](/blog/airbnb-cleaning-turnover-checklist) has a restock section you can copy.

If you want the full furnishing budget broken into must buy now and buy later, the [Airbnb pack](/airbnb) has the setup checklist and the unit math to decide what your first property can afford.

## Tier 3: amenities that only pay off in the right market

**Pools, hot tubs, game rooms and pet policies can lift bookings, but only where your guests want them.** The top reply in an r/ShortTermRentals thread on this exact question put it plainly: a hot tub is far more profitable in a mountain town than a beach town, and a game room suits a big family house, not a one bedroom condo in Manhattan.

| Amenity | Works best for | Main downside |
|---|---|---|
| Hot tub | Mountain, ski and cabin markets | Chemicals, cleaning time, complaints when it is cold |
| Pool | Warm, family and group markets | Insurance, heating costs, upkeep |
| Pet friendly | Road trip and drive-to markets | Extra cleaning, hair, damage risk |
| Game room or board games | Large homes for families and groups | Space; broken pieces |
| Dedicated workspace | City and mid-term stays | Space; needs a real chair |
| Crib and high chair | Family markets | Storage between stays |
| Outdoor dining, fire pit, grill | Houses with yards | Weather, cleaning, fire rules |

Several hosts in that thread said being pet friendly was "a huge one" for occupancy. Pet friendly is also a filter, so it can put you in front of guests your neighbors exclude. Price it with a pet fee that covers the extra cleaning; the [cleaning fee guide](/blog/airbnb-cleaning-fee-how-much) shows how to set one.

## What Airbnb amenities are nice to haves, or a waste?

**Anything that is not a filter in your market and not touched daily is a nice to have.** Hosts on Reddit repeatedly name these as low return:

- **Fancy toilets and bidets.** Guests rarely mention them, and some say they would avoid using one in a rental.
- **Bikes and expensive sports gear.** Theft is hard to pin on a guest, and you should check with your insurer first.
- **Paid streaming subscriptions.** Guests use their own accounts on a smart TV.
- **Expensive decor and gadgets.** One host summed it up: "Don't over think it and don't over invest. Check out comps in the area." Every gadget is also one more thing to break.

Some nice to haves are still worth it because they are cheap and photograph well: a record player with thrift store vinyl, a Bluetooth speaker, a branded welcome card. Just buy them after Tier 1 and Tier 2 are done.

## How to choose amenities for your listing, step by step

**Copy what your competition all has, then add one thing most of them lack.** That is the whole method.

1. **Pull your top 10 comps.** Search your area on Airbnb with your dates and guest count. Note the listings with the most reviews and highest ratings.
2. **List the amenities they all share.** Those are your market's baseline. Missing any is a reason to lose the booking.
3. **Find one gap.** Maybe only two of ten are pet friendly, or none has a workspace. That gap is your edge.
4. **Match your guest type.** Families, remote workers, couples and groups want different things. Read your comps' reviews to see who books.
5. **Budget Tier 1, then Tier 2.** Only then spend on Tier 3.
6. **Update the listing honestly.** Tick every amenity you have, and say clearly what you do not have.
7. **Read your own reviews monthly.** If three guests mention the same missing item, buy it.

## Mistakes hosts make with amenities

**Most amenity problems are accuracy problems, not spending problems.** These came up again and again in host threads.

- **Assuming guests read the amenities list.** A host on r/airbnb_hosts got a four star review because a guest saw "Hair dryer" ticked and assumed there was a clothes dryer. If something commonly expected is missing, say it in the description and your pre-arrival message. The [guest messaging templates](/blog/airbnb-guest-messaging-templates) include a check-in message where this fits.
- **Overstating an amenity.** One guest described a listing with "A/C" that turned out to be one small unit in the kitchen. That reads as dishonest and hurts the accuracy score.
- **Buying for yourself.** Hosts who furnish the place they would want to live in overspend. As one put it, "realize that you won't be living there."
- **Forgetting to restock.** A great coffee setup with no coffee left is worse than none at all.
- **Ignoring the market.** A hot tub in a hot beach town or a game room in a studio rarely pays back.

## Where to go from here

1. Fill every Tier 1 gap your property can support, starting with wifi, A/C or heating, and self check-in.
2. Upgrade the bed, pillows, towels and coffee before buying anything fancy.
3. Check your top 10 comps and add one amenity most of them lack.
4. Rewrite your listing so missing items are stated plainly.
5. Review your own reviews each month and buy what guests keep asking for.

The [Airbnb pack](/airbnb) adds the full step by step: 21 lessons across 6 modules with the setup budget, listing checklist, guest message scripts and turnover systems, for $19, or all 16 Money Printer packs for $39. Results vary by market, and amenities alone will not fix a bad location or price.

## Frequently asked questions

### What amenities do Airbnb guests want most?

By Airbnb's own 2025 search data, the most filtered amenities are a pool, free parking, wifi, air conditioning or heating, a kitchen, a hot tub, a washer or dryer, self check-in, a TV and a BBQ grill. Those win the search. Reviews then hinge on comfort basics: the bed, pillows, towels, coffee and fast, reliable wifi.

### What amenities increase Airbnb bookings?

Amenities that match a search filter increase bookings, because a listing without them is hidden from guests who tick that box. Wifi, free parking, A/C, a kitchen and a washer are the safest. Pet friendly, a hot tub or a pool can lift bookings in the right market, but hosts report the gain depends heavily on location and guest type.

### Which amenities get mentioned in Airbnb reviews?

Hosts on Reddit say reviews mention the bed, the towels, the coffee setup, a snack basket, a big smart TV and small local touches like a welcome note. Expensive features such as a bidet toilet rarely get mentioned. Guests review what they touch every day, so spend there before you buy a showpiece.

### Do I need air conditioning for my Airbnb?

If your guests are mostly American or your summers get hot, yes, or at least portable units. Airbnb's 2018 survey found 59% of US respondents called A/C an important indoor amenity, and hosts without it report constant complaints. If you skip it, say so in the title area and the first lines of the description, not only in the amenities list.

### Should I offer Netflix on my Airbnb TV?

Offer a smart TV with streaming apps and let guests sign in to their own accounts instead. Hosts say guests prefer their own profiles, and a previous guest's account left logged in is an awkward review risk. Put a short note by the TV reminding guests to sign out, and add sign out to your turnover checklist.

### What is the best way to learn which amenities to buy for an Airbnb?

The Rushilo Airbnb pack is the best way for a beginner because its 21 lessons cover the setup budget, the listing and the operating checklists in one place for $19. Pair it with a look at your top 10 local comps: copy the amenities they all share, then add one that most of them lack.

### What Airbnb amenities are not worth the money?

Hosts list fancy toilets, bikes, expensive decor pieces and paid streaming subscriptions as low return. Bikes get stolen and raise insurance questions, and guests bring their own streaming logins. Any item that breaks easily, needs explaining or is not a search filter in your market is a nice to have at best.

## Sources

- [Airbnb Resource Center: The amenities guests want](https://www.airbnb.com/resources/hosting-homes/a/the-amenities-guests-want-25)
- [Airbnb Newsroom: Airbnb reveals which amenities guests search for most](https://news.airbnb.com/amenities-do-matter-airbnb-reveals-which-amenities-guests-search-for-most)
- [PriceLabs: Best Airbnb amenities to boost occupancy](https://hello.pricelabs.co/blog/best-airbnb-amenities-to-boost-occupancy/)
- [r/AirBnB: Legendary amenities to add to your short term rental](https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/pcpb62/legendary_amenities_to_add_to_your_short_term/)
- [r/airbnb_hosts: American guests and the A/C thing](https://www.reddit.com/r/airbnb_hosts/comments/1urmgpr/superhost_in_london_for_almost_10_years_thousands/)
- [r/airbnb_hosts: 4 star review over hair dryer vs clothes dryer](https://www.reddit.com/r/airbnb_hosts/comments/1qregw5/got_a_4star_review_because_the_guest_confused/)
- [r/ShortTermRentals: What amenities actually increase occupancy the most?](https://www.reddit.com/r/ShortTermRentals/comments/1sisjgy/what_amenities_actually_increase_occupancy_the/)